Characteristics and freezability of Kathiawari horse semen

S K RAVI; R A LEGHA; YASH PAL; R C SHARMA

doi:10.56093/ijans.v83i11.34754

Authors

S K RAVI Scientist, National Research Centre on Equines, Bikaner, Rajasthan 334 001 India
R A LEGHA Senior Scientist, National Research Centre on Equines, Bikaner, Rajasthan 334 001 India
YASH PAL Senior Scientist, National Research Centre on Equines, Bikaner, Rajasthan 334 001 India
R C SHARMA Principal Scientist, National Research Centre on Equines, Bikaner, Rajasthan 334 001 India

https://doi.org/10.56093/ijans.v83i11.34754

Keywords:

Characteristic, Freezability, Freezing, Horse, Kathiawari, Semen

Abstract

Semen was collected from 6 Kathiawari horses for its evaluation and freezing. The appearance of fresh semen was milky white to creamy and consistency of gel free semen was variably thin. The volume of total semen, gel free semen and gel in semen were 37.8±3.47, 25.8±2.13 and 12.0±2.22 ml, respectively. Mass and progressive sperm motility percent in gel free semen was 82.0±1.51 and 77.0±1.51, respectively. Mean sperm concentration in fresh semen was 173.75±8.86 × 106 ml-1. Post thaw sperm motility (PTM) % in 17 out of total 21 ejaculates (80%) was recorded up to an acceptable >30 and mean value 35.62±1.99. Five Kathiawari horses were moderate to good freezer (PTM, 30 to 45%), whereas one stallion was poor freezer (PTM, 5 to 10%). The study indicated that the semen from Kathiawari stallions can be cryopreserved at farmers’ door using vapor freezing technique for encouraging artificial insemination and their conservation.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Davies Morel M C G. 1993. Equine Reproductive Physiology, Breeding and Stud Management. 1st edn. Farming Press, Ipswich, UK.

Heckenbichler S, Deichsel K, Peters P and Aurich . 2011. Quality and fertility of cooled-shipped stallion semen at the time of insemination. Theriogenology 75: 849–56. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.theriogenology.2010.10.027

Legha R A and Pal Y. 2012. A comparative study of freezing techniques of jack semen. Veterinary Practioner 13 (1): 88–89.

Magistrini M, Chanteloube P and Palmer E. 1987. Influence of season and frequency of ejaculation on production of stallion semen for freezing. Journal of Reproduction and Fertility 35:127–33.

Pal Y, Arangasamy A, Legha R A, Singh J, Bansal, R S, Khurana, S K and Tandon S N. 2011a. Freezability and fertility of Marwari stallion semen. Indian Journal of Animal Sciences 81 (5): 445– 47.

Pal Y, Legha R A and Khurana S K. 2011b. Cryopreservation of stallion semen. Indian Veterinary Journal 88(12): 84–85.

Pal Y, Legha R A and Tandon S N. (2009). Comparative assessment of seminal characteristics of horse and donkey stallions. Indian Journal of Animal Sciences 79 (10): 1028–29.

Pickett B W, Voss J L, Bowen R A, Squires E L and McKinnon A O. 1988. Comparison of seminal characteristics of stallion that passed or failed seminal evaluation. 11th International Congress on Animal Production and Artificial Insemination. June 26–30, Vol. 3 Paper 380. University College Dublin, Dublin, Republic of Ireland.

Ricketts S W. 1993. Evaluation of Stallion semen. Equine Veterinary Education 5: 232–37. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2042-3292.1993.tb01726.x

Tischner M. 1979. Evaluation of deep-frozen semen in stallions. Journal of Reproduction and Fertility 27: 58–59.

Vidament M, Dupere A M, Julienne P, Evain A, Noue P and Palmer E. 1997. Equine frozen semen: freezability and fertility field results. Theriogenology 48: 907–17. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0093-691X(97)00319-1